LEAVES Website for May-June 2021 Issue

Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:

        On May 1 the Church celebrates St. Joseph the Worker, the one whose work provided for the needs of Jesus and Mary. During the pandemic many people’s livelihoods were upended. Some positions were simply eliminated, others were changed drastically. Some front-line workers had to work under dangerous conditions, subjecting themselves to possibly contracting a deadly virus.

Work can be difficult under even so-called “normal” circumstances. Your own situation, in addition to that of your spouse, your children and sometimes your parents or other loved ones, must be taken into account. It can be a real juggling act.

There are those who wonder, can my vehicle be depended upon to get back and forth from work safely? Has rain and wind made driving tricky? Can I afford to put gas in the car?

Many people made major purchases based on steady employment that is no longer steady. Their rent or mortgage is no longer affordable. Car payments are overdue. Credit cards usually paid off monthly now accumulate higher and more charges with increasing interest due.

When jobs are no longer secure, people put off going to the doctor. They skip going to the dentist. Eye doctor appointments are postponed. Just when people need it most, they feel unable to afford seeing a mental health professional.

These are just some of the stresses that weigh heavily on workers and the unemployed. Most of them cannot be seen. They are not like a broken arm or leg that might elicit a sympathetic nod from others.

When all else fails, what can help lighten these burdens? Prayer, of course. In this Year of St. Joseph, perhaps we might follow the example of Pope Francis. The Holy Father noted in With a Father’s Heart:
Every day, for over 40 years, following Lauds I have recited a prayer to St. Joseph taken from a 19th-century French prayer book of the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary. It expresses devotion and trust, and even poses a certain challenge to St. Joseph: “Glorious Patriarch St. Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen.”

Worries generally do not simply disappear overnight and life does not instantly become a bed of roses. However, with prayer and the intercession of the saints we are able to gain the strength to endure whatever life throws at us. So, during this special year, let us pray to St. Joseph for one another and for ourselves.


        This is generally a delightful time of year. Flowers are in bloom. Grass is green. Weather is pleasant. Take some moments each day to admire the gifts of nature the Lord provides.

Spending time outdoors can rejuvenate the body and the soul. The fresh air of a walk is particularly sweet. Watching the antics of the birds and the squirrels is entertaining.

Planting and tending a garden can be therapeutic, with a bonus of enjoying a future harvest. Even a patio plant or dish garden on the kitchen counter can be rewarding. Appreciate and offer thanksgiving for creation, both flora and fauna – plants and animals.

May God grant you abundant blessings always – Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.



Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:


Understanding God’s Plan

My donation is in honor of my mother and father. Many years ago my mother kept a promise to our Blessed Virgin and visited the shrine of Good St. Anne in Canada. I went along for the trip, for my parents never left me or my siblings out of vacations or special trips.

This trip was a special one to me to this day, and I am 78 years of age. I can remember the many crutches and wheelchairs left behind in testimony of physical and surely spiritual healings.

After we paid a trip to the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal, which was under construction, we knelt and prayed at each of the outside Stations of the Cross. What a beautiful view of the city on that hill!

On one occasion at home we all pooled our change together to make a donation from a plea on television from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. What a joyful surprise to receive a handwritten letter from him stating, “I asked for a crumb and you sent me a loaf!” Such a lovely man, who was someone who loved the Lord so much that he understood “God’s plan” to work with Him and with one another.

Please pray for my parents, Annette and Ovila – Richard G.



St. Anthony Finds Shortage

I have really enjoyed reading LEAVES for many years. I recently read an article on St. Anthony in a recent issue and it brought back many memories of this wonderful saint. I have always said this prayer to him whenever I lose something: “Dear St. Anthony, please look around, something is lost and cannot be found.” Then I promise a donation to the poor, or as some call it, St. Anthony’s Bread.

Many years ago I worked in a bank as a teller. Back then when we proved our cash at the end of the day, we always had to be “in proof,” even to the penny, as this was expected of us. Well, one Friday before the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the bank was extremely busy. When I finally got to count all my cash to “prove out,” I found myself short in the amount of $100.00.

Now back then, in the 1960s, this was an enormous amount, so I counted it again and again, and still came up short. I then called my supervisor over to help out. She counted it and got the same shortage. Then my manager came on the scene, and he counted it. Same results!

I was, needless to say, a wreck. The $100.00 error was one of the easiest to make, but it didn’t make me feel any better, so after more than an hour of counting, I packed up my cash bag, locked it, and put it into the vault. That weekend was not a pleasant one. I prayed all weekend long to St. Anthony, begging him to find my hundred dollars.

When Monday morning came, I got to work early and took my cash bag out of the vault. I brought it to my teller station and emptied it out onto the counter. Then, something looked different. I got my teller proof sheet out, and lo and behold, there was an extra $100.00 in one dollar bills!

I cannot recall the exact amount, but my vault cash was now $3,700.00, instead of $3,600.00, which was written on my proof sheet. I immediately re-packed my bag and brought it to the supervisor. She was in shock. She sort of looked at me like I was joking.

I was shaking at this point. “How could this be?” So many had counted my cash. All I could say was that I prayed to St. Anthony all weekend long! And they all just smiled.

This event was truly a miracle to me. I know in my heart that St. Anthony somehow got that extra $100.00 in one dollar bills into my cash bag, even though it was locked and in the vault. I promised him back then, and I made that donation for this miraculous favor that was answered.

Today I am also making a donation again in honor of St. Anthony, who will always come to our aid, and I thank him with all my heart – Maureen W.




Excerpted from Blessed Engelmar Testimonies:



A Life of
Blessed Engelmar


There is now available a booklet of the life of Blessed Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.

My gift is in thanksgiving to Bl. Engelmar for my nephew, Kevin. Kevin has been in the seminary for seven years and was to be ordained a transitional deacon this past year; however, he was deemed “too immature.”

I started to pray to Bl. Engelmar for God’s will in this situation and, praise God, Kevin is going to be ordained a deacon! I will continue to ask Bl. Engelmar for God’s will for Kevin to be ordained a priest.

I have enjoyed LEAVES magazine for 40 years. Keep up the good work. In peace and love – Barb.

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I am overdue sending a “Thank you” to LEAVES for prayers answered. One of my dear sons who is single quit his job after 12 years, because so often he was required to work nights and it upset his health so much.

This son would also miss many family holiday plans due to his job. It would make all of us sad. So he went without a job for a while. But as soon as I started a novena to Bl. Engelmar, I discovered that he found a job on the third day.

It is a lovely company and the hours are great. His health is much improved! Also, the work is enjoyable to him. How great is that! Thank you, dear Bl. Engelmar! – A.M.M.

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This donation is for favors received from Ss. Rita and Jude and Bl. Engelmar – Lisa R.



Novena in Honor of
Abbot Francis Pfanner


Abbot Francis Pfanner founded Mariannhill Monastery, and 112 years ago its monks became the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill. He was not only a great missionary, but also a holy man. The cause for his beatification has begun. We have available a novena in his honor and will send you a free copy of it when you send a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.


Prayer to St. Joseph
Model for Workers
 
    Silent and well-known carpenter in Nazareth, model of workers, by the work of your hands, you gave your contribution to the work of the Creator, you earned your living, and you provided for the needs of the Holy Family.
  
Intercede for all workers in the difficulties of their daily lives, especially for the unemployed, in their anxieties for tomorrow so that, through the guidance of God, the great Architect and Builder, they all may use their strength and their talents to make visible His Kingdom, His new creation, to offer a concrete service to society and to earn wages worthy of their efforts. Amen.

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Blessing of Workers

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Creator of the universe and Father of humanity.

We praise You for Your mighty works and for the wonders of Your love. Hear our prayers today and grant Your blessings to all workers.

Let our work contribute to the good of all members of this community and to Your glory forever and ever. Amen.



Jesus, I Wonder
By Janet Collins

Were you ever lonely,
Did you ever cry,
Were you ever sad,
Did you ever sigh?


Were you ever sick,
Were you ever thirsty,
Were you ever cold,
Were you ever hungry?


Were you ever afraid,
Were you ever poor,
Were you ever lost,
Were you ever unsure?

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My child, I’ll give
An answer true.
I felt these things
Much like you.


At times my body
Filled with ache.
At times my heart
Appeared to break.


At times I suffered
Hurt and fear.
I saw my best friend
Disappear.


So when you need
A helping hand,
Just say a prayer …
I understand.



All Shades of Perfection
By Margaret Peterson

No shade of imperfection is found
In God our Savior and King.
Rather, He is all shades of Love,
Victorious in everything!


Who Do You Say I Am?
By Bernice Laux

Who do you say I am?
Why, the Savior of mankind,
Jesus, pure and spotless Lamb;

God! who knows what we’re about,
One, who knows our every thought,
Assures us in all foolish doubt;

Precious Lord, who does forgive
Anyone who comes to Him.
He teaches us the way to live.

He’s our guide through darkest night
And searches for the one who’s lost
To bring him back to eternal light.

He lifts the ailing from a bed,
Healing all who come to Him.
He even raises from the dead.

In the final judgment we await
May the God of justice and mercy
Bring us safe to heaven’s gate.